XI GREAT MOMENTS FOR PROTEAS AT T20 WORLD CUP

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup delivered some exceptional performances over the month in the US and Caribbean.

Several Betway SA20 stars within the Proteas' line-up certainly delivered some exceptional entertainment.

Here are XI great moments:

ANRICH NORTJE'S 4/7 VS SRI LANKA IN GROUP OPENER

The Pretoria Capitals fast bowler missed the entire SA20 Season 2 before making a low-key return at the IPL. But Nortje showed just why Proteas white-ball kept faith with him in a bustling display in the opening game. Nortje maintained a high-level of performance throughout the competition to be named 12th man in the ICC T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament.

OTTNIEL BAARTMAN'S 4/11 VS NETHERLANDS IN GROUP STAGE

The leading wicket-taker in SA20 history made his ICC tournament debut in the US and replicated all the skills he has shown over the past two seasons with the Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Although he ultimately lost out to spinner Tabraiz Shamsi when the tournament moved across to the Caribbean surfaces, Baartman was exceptional against the Dutch.

KESHAV MAHARAJ'S 3/27 VS BANGLADESH IN GROUP STAGE

The Durban's Super Giants captain had never before bowled the final over of a T20 International, but despite delivering three full tosses, the left-arm spinner still managed to edge the Proteas over the line in a thriller against Bangladesh with two wickets in the final over.

HEINRICH KLAASEN'S LAST-BALL RUN OUT VS NEPAL IN SUPER EIGHTS

The Proteas almost came unstuck against the Associate Nation and required a bit of magic from Heinrich Klaasen, who picked up the ball after Quinton de Kock had struck the Nepalese batter on his back to run him out at the bowlers’ end. 

KAGISO RABADA'S 3/18 VS USA IN SUPER EIGHTS

The US were valiant challengers and had done exceptionally well to reach the Super Eight stage, but in the crunch moments MI Cape Town's Kagiso Rabada was just too good for them.

QUINTON DE KOCK'S 64 VS ENGLAND IN SUPER EIGHTS

The former DSG skipper just loves playing the English, and on a surface where hardly any batters could play freely, De Kock attacked the Powerplay that ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.

TABRAIZ SHAMSI'S 3/27 TO KNOCK WEST INDIES OUT

The co-hosts West Indies were desperate to reach the semi-finals on home soil and had a capacity crowd in Trinidad cheering them on. But the Paarl Royals wrist-spinner maintained his stranglehold on the Windies to book the Proteas’ semi-final spot.

MARCO JANSEN'S 3/16 VS AFGHANISTAN IN SEMI-FINAL

The lanky seamer, who was the leading wicket-taker in Betway SA20, stole the limelight in the semi-final with an incisive new-ball spell that the Afghans could not recover. Jansen’s performance booked the Proteas' first-ever appearance in a World Cup final.

AIDEN MARKRAM'S CAPTAINCY IN SEMI-FINAL VS AFGHANISTAN

Often good leadership goes unnoticed, but Markram’s captaincy was so exceptional against the Afghans in the semi-final it had to be highlighted. Markram had the confidence to bowl himself throughout the Powerplay before holding back Rabada until the 18th over. It was a perfect example of being able to adjust to the conditions, showcasing the Proteas' new-found flexibility.

QUINTON DE KOCK'S RUN OUT OF AXAR PATEL IN FINAL VS INDIA

De Kock delivered a moment of brilliance in the T20 World Cup final when he swooped, ripped off his glove and threw down the stumps all in one movement from 40 metres away to run out Axar Patel.

HEINRICH KLAASEN'S 52 IN FINAL VS INDIA

Klaasen showed why he is arguably the most dangerous white-ball batter in the world with a ferocious onslaught against Axar Patel in the final. The over yielded 24 runs which took him to the fastest half-century in T20 World Cup history.

All images: ICC/Getty